Conduit hub adapter for electrical box

Abstract

An electrical box having an enclosure and a conduit hub adapter that is configured to engage a portion of the enclosure. The enclosure defines an opening that is configured to receive an electrical power conductor. The conduit hub adapter is movable with respect to the enclosure from a disengaged position to an engaged position. A retainer may be positioned adjacent the opening to engage the conduit hub adapter when in the engaged position and secure the conduit hub adapter to the enclosure. The conduit hub adapter may be configured for engagement with the enclosure in a single orientation. The retainer may be configured so that it may only be disengaged from the conduit hub adapter from within an interior space of the enclosure. The enclosure may have a second opening with a second conduit hub adapter configured to engage the enclosure adjacent the second opening.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. An electrical box comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a plurality of walls defining an interior space, wherein at least one of the walls defines an opening configured to receive an electrical power conductor, and wherein the enclosure comprises a retainer adjacent the opening; and 
 a conduit hub adapter that is at least partially configured for insertion through the opening into the interior space, wherein when at least a portion of the conduit hub adapter is positioned in the interior space, the conduit hub adapter is movable with respect to the enclosure from a disengaged position, in which the retainer does not engage the conduit hub adapter, to an engaged position, in which the retainer engages the conduit hub adapter to secure the conduit hub adapter to the enclosure, and wherein the retainer may only be disengaged from the conduit hub adapter from within the interior space. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit hub adapter comprises an enclosure engaging structure that engages the enclosure when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       3. The electrical box of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure engaging structure engages the enclosure when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to substantially constrain the conduit hub adapter from moving in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the opening. 
     
     
       4. The electrical box of  claim 3 , wherein the retainer substantially constrains the conduit hub adapter from rotating in a first direction around the central axis when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position, and wherein the enclosure engaging structure engages the enclosure to substantially constrain the conduit hub adapter from rotating in a second direction around the central axis when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       5. The electrical box of  claim 2 , wherein an edge of the enclosure surrounding the opening is configured so that the enclosure engaging structure is insertable through the opening in a single orientation. 
     
     
       6. The electrical box of  claim 5 , wherein the edge includes a first keyed section, and wherein the enclosure engaging structure comprises a first key that matches the first keyed section and is configured for insertion through the opening adjacent the first keyed section. 
     
     
       7. The electrical box of  claim 6 , wherein the edge includes a second keyed section, and wherein the enclosure engaging structure comprises a second key that matches the second keyed section and is configured for insertion through the opening adjacent the second keyed section, wherein the first keyed section has a different shape than the second keyed section. 
     
     
       8. The electrical box of  claim 6 , wherein the edge includes curved sections that are generally equidistant from the central axis of the opening, and wherein the first keyed section is positioned between adjacent curved sections. 
     
     
       9. The electrical box of  claim 8 , wherein the first keyed section extends radially outward from the curved sections. 
     
     
       10. The electrical box of  claim 6 , wherein the retainer is positioned adjacent the first keyed section, and wherein the retainer is configured to engage the first key when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       11. The electrical box of  claim 10 , wherein the first key comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein the retainer is configured to engage the trailing edge when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       12. The electrical box of  claim 11 , wherein the first key comprises a sloped surface positioned between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the sloped surface is configured to slidingly engage the retainer as the conduit hub adapter moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     
     
       13. The electrical box of  claim 5 , wherein the edge includes a plurality of keyed sections, wherein the enclosure engaging structure comprises a plurality of keys, wherein the plurality of keyed sections and the plurality of keys are positioned so that the plurality of keys are insertable through the opening adjacent the plurality of keyed sections in a single orientation. 
     
     
       14. The electrical box of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of keyed sections are spaced apart from each other in a non-uniform manner such that a first distance between adjacent keyed sections is different than a second distance between adjacent keyed sections, and wherein the plurality of keys are spaced apart from each other so that the plurality of keys match the plurality of keyed sections and are configured for insertion through the opening adjacent the plurality of keyed sections. 
     
     
       15. The electrical box of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of keys engage the enclosure when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to substantially constrain the conduit hub adapter from moving in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the opening. 
     
     
       16. The electrical box of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer substantially constrains the conduit hub adapter from rotating in a first direction around the central axis when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       17. The electrical box of  claim 13 , wherein the edge includes curved sections that are generally equidistant from the central axis of the opening, and wherein each of the plurality of keyed sections is positioned between adjacent curved sections. 
     
     
       18. The electrical box of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of keyed sections extend radially outward from the curved sections. 
     
     
       19. The electrical box of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer is positioned adjacent a first keyed section of the plurality of keyed sections, and wherein the retainer is configured to engage a first key of the plurality of keys when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to prevent rotation of the conduit hub adapter in a first direction. 
     
     
       20. The electrical box of  claim 19 , wherein the first key comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein the retainer is configured to engage the trailing edge when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       21. The electrical box of  claim 20 , wherein the first key comprises a sloped surface positioned between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the sloped surface is configured to slidingly engage the retainer as the conduit hub adapter moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     
     
       22. The electrical box of  claim 19 , wherein a second key of the plurality of keys comprises a stop that is configured to engage a portion of the enclosure surrounding the opening when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to prevent rotation of the conduit hub adapter in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
       23. The electrical box of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit hub adapter comprises a base, wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises an upper surface that is spaced apart from a lower surface of the base to define a gap, and wherein a portion of the enclosure surrounding the opening is received in the gap when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       24. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer extends from the wall defining the opening into the interior space. 
     
     
       25. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit hub adapter is rotatable with respect to the enclosure from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     
     
       26. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the conduit hub adapter and the retainer must be deformed to move the conduit hub adapter from the engaged position back to the disengaged position. 
     
     
       27. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the wall defining the opening comprises a raised embossment surrounding the opening, and wherein the conduit hub adapter comprises a seal that sealingly engages the raised embossment when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       28. The electrical box of  claim 27 , wherein the seal is coupled to a base of the conduit hub adapter and molded in place with the base. 
     
     
       29. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit hub adapter comprises a base and a conduit connector coupled to and extending outward from the base. 
     
     
       30. The electrical box of  claim 29 , wherein the conduit hub adapter defines a channel that extends through the base and the conduit connector, wherein the channel is at least partially aligned with the opening in the enclosure and configured to receive the electrical power conductor when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       31. The electrical box of  claim 30 , wherein the conduit hub adapter comprises an enclosure engaging structure that is coupled to and extends outward from the base in an opposite direction as the conduit connector. 
     
     
       32. The electrical box of  claim 31 , wherein the enclosure engaging structure comprises a side wall and a plurality of keys each extending radially outward from the side wall. 
     
     
       33. The electrical box of  claim 32 , wherein each of the keys comprises an upper surface that is spaced apart from a lower surface of the base to define a gap, and wherein a portion of the enclosure surrounding the opening is received in the gap when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       34. The electrical box of  claim 33 , wherein one of the keys comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the upper surface defines a notch adjacent the trailing edge, and wherein the notch is configured to receive the retainer when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to prevent rotation of the conduit hub adapter in a first direction. 
     
     
       35. The electrical box of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the keys comprises a stop that extends from the upper surface of the key to the lower surface of the base, wherein the stop is configured to engage a portion of the enclosure surrounding the opening when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position to prevent rotation of the conduit hub adapter in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
       36. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a meter socket enclosure. 
     
     
       37. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further defines a second opening configured to receive a second electrical power conductor, and wherein the enclosure comprises a second retainer adjacent the second opening. 
     
     
       38. The electrical box of  claim 37 , further comprising a second conduit hub adapter that is movable with respect to the enclosure from a disengaged position, in which the second retainer does not engage the second conduit hub adapter, to an engaged position, in which the second retainer engages the second conduit hub adapter to secure the second conduit hub adapter to the enclosure. 
     
     
       39. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit hub adapter is formed from polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
       40. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit hub adapter defines a channel that is at least partially aligned with the opening in the enclosure and configured to receive the electrical power conductor when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       41. The electrical box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the walls of the enclosure defines a second opening configured to receive a second electrical power conductor, and wherein the conduit hub adapter is rotatable with respect to the enclosure from the disengaged position to the engaged position, in which the conduit hub adapter engages the enclosure adjacent the opening to substantially constrain the conduit hub adapter from moving in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the opening, wherein the conduit hub adapter defines a first channel that is aligned with at least a portion of the opening and configured to receive the electrical power conductor when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position, and wherein the electrical box further comprises a second conduit hub adapter that is rotatable with respect to the enclosure from a disengaged position to an engaged position, in which the second conduit hub adapter engages the enclosure adjacent the second opening to substantially constrain the second conduit hub adapter from moving in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the second opening, wherein the second conduit hub adapter defines a second channel that is aligned with at least a portion of the second opening and configured to receive the second electrical power conductor when the second conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       42. The electrical box of  claim 41 , wherein the conduit hub adapter is at least partially insertable in the opening in a single orientation, and wherein the second conduit hub adapter is at least partially insertable in the second opening in a single orientation. 
     
     
       43. The electrical box of  claim 41 , wherein the enclosure comprises a second retainer adjacent the second opening, and wherein the second retainer engages the second conduit hub adapter to secure the second conduit hub adapter to the enclosure when the second conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       44. The electrical box of  claim 43 , wherein the retainer substantially constrains the conduit hub adapter from rotating in a first direction around a central axis of the opening when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position, and wherein the conduit hub adapter engages the enclosure to substantially constrain the conduit hub adapter from rotating in a second direction around the central axis when the conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       45. The electrical box of  claim 44 , wherein the second retainer substantially constrains the second conduit hub adapter from rotating in a third direction around a central axis of the second opening when the second conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position, and wherein the second conduit hub adapter engages the enclosure to substantially constrain the second conduit hub adapter from rotating in a fourth direction around the central axis of the second opening when the second conduit hub adapter is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       46. The electrical box of  claim 41 , wherein the enclosure is a meter socket enclosure.